Mammal · GBIF taxon 2440779
Southern Long-nosed Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctusAlso known as Nine-banded Armadillo, Common Armadillo, Nine-banded Long-nosed Armadillo
Southern long-nosed armadillos are solitary, nocturnal insectivores known for their armor-like shell of bony osteoderms and flexible band hinges. They forage by thrusting their narrow snouts into loose soil, using keen olfaction to locate beetles, ants, and earthworms beneath the leaf litter. Females remarkably give birth to identical quadruplets derived from a single fertilized egg, a reproductive trait unique to their genus.
NocturnalArmoredMammal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetle larvae
- Ants and termites
- Earthworms
Predators
- Jaguars
- Pumas
- Maned Wolves
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, hunting, and vehicle collisions
HabitatsTropical rainforests, dry scrub, grasslands, and savanna
Life span7–15 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCingulata
- FamilyDasypodidae
- GenusDasypus
- SpeciesDasypus novemcinctus
Native
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can carry bacterial pathogens like Hansen's disease; observe from a safe distance without touching.
- Why it is dangerous
- Serves as a natural reservoir for Mycobacterium leprae, which causes Hansen's disease, and can transmit bacteria through close contact.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a greyish-brown shell with nine central band hinges, a pointed head, and sharp front digging claws.
- What to do
- Keep a safe distance, avoid touching wild individuals, and keep domestic pets away from armadillo burrows.
Responsible observation
- Observation Distance: Maintain a quiet distance of several meters to watch natural foraging behavior without scaring the animal into its burrow.
- Burrow Awareness: Keep clear of underground tunnel entrances, which armadillos use as rapid escape routes when alarmed.
- Sanitation First: Avoid touching wild armadillos or digging in areas with active burrow soil without gloves.
Predator (c) Charles J. Sharp , some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Competitor Sinara Conessa / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Josefma / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Taxonomic Relative Guillaume Delaitre / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain Pro
Desert Sands
Southern Long-nosed Armadillo is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.